Before & After: Rodman Gun

[Mike Serpa]

Alexandria, Virginia. 15-inch Rodman gun in Battery Rodgers (LOC 01350v)

This the second photo with cracked glass that had to be shifted that I attempted. (General Oliver Howard was the first.) Many people on this site have encouraged me to "stretch out" and attempt more difficult tasks. Some I've talked to on the phone or by email. Most were by their posts, either photos or text. Some were on other forums. I won't name names in case I might omit one or two. This is dedicated to them. Thank you.

 

[Dave Wilma]

How long did it take to load and fire this thing? How many to man it? Was it useful other than to scare armies away from it? The U.S. Army had 16 inch rifles in coast artillery forts up to and through World War II, but they never were fired in anger.

 

[tmh10]

Good work, Mike.

 

[major bill]

The book Artillery and Ammunition of the Civil War by Warren Ripley states that these 50,000lb. monsters never fired in anger during the Civil War.

Major Bill

 

[DaveBrt]

The main purpose for guns like this was to keep enemy siege artillery far enough away so that they could not seriously harm the defender's fortifications. Slow rate of fire was not a problem, since sieges took weeks or months.

 

[UKMarkw]

Nice job indeed

 

[TinCan]

Good Lord, wouldn't you hate to have to load that thing.

 

[Samuel.Sohm]

Good Lord, wouldn't you hate to have to load that thing.

Yeah, but I would love to fire it

 

[TinCan]

Yeah, but I would love to fire it

Oh you bet Sam, that would be one fun thing to do

 

[Mike Serpa]

Good work, Mike.

Thanks, Ted.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Nice job indeed

Thank you.

 

[napoleon 12 pounder]

good job. nice clean up.

 

[Stony]

Nice work. That is a monster of a gun. Thanks for sharing.

 

[M E Wolf]

Alexandria, Virginia. 15-inch Rodman gun in Battery Rodgers (LOC 01350v)

View attachment 14133
View attachment 14134
This the second photo with cracked glass that had to be shifted that I attempted. (General Oliver Howard was the first.) Many people on this site have encouraged me to "stretch out" and attempt more difficult tasks. Some I've talked to on the phone or by email. Most were by their posts, either photos or text. Some were on other forums. I won't name names in case I might omit one or two. This is dedicated to them. Thank you.

Beautiful work!

M. E. Wolf

 

[Mike Serpa]

Thanks again!

 

[oleslavecatcher]

Your usual excellent job, Mike!